Battle of Minden
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Minden—or Tho(r)nhausen—was fought on 1 August 1759, during the Seven Years' War
. An army fielded by the Anglo-German alliance commanded by Field Marshal
Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick, defeated a French army commanded by Marshal of France
Louis, Marquis de Contades
. In Britain, the victory was considered one of several fortuitous events that constituted the Annus Mirabilis of 1759
.
. This culminated in a decisive victory for the French at the Battle of Hastenbeck
and the attempted imposition of the Convention of Klosterzeven
upon the defeated allies: Hanover, Prussia and Britain. Prussia and Britain refused to ratify the convention; and, in 1758, a counter-offensive commanded by Ferdinand saw French forces first driven back across the Rhine, and then beaten at the Battle of Krefeld
. The Prussian port of Emden
was also recaptured, securing allied supply from Britain. In fact, the British government, who had previously been opposed to any direct involvement on the continent, took the opportunity of the 1758–59 winter break in fighting to send nine thousand British troops to reinforce Ferdinand. The French crown also sent a reinforcing army, under Contades, hoping this would help to soon secure a decisive victory, swiftly concluding the costly war, and forcing the allies to, this time, accept the peace terms France was seeking.
In an attempt to defeat the French before their reinforcements arrived, Ferdinand decided to launch a fresh counter-offensive, and quit his winter quarters early. In April, however, Victor-François, Duke de Broglie
and the French withstood Ferdinand's attack at the Battle of Bergen
, and de Broglie was promoted to Marshal of France. Ferdinand was forced to retreat northwards in the face of the now reinforced French army. Contades, senior of the two French marshals, resumed the advance, occupying a number of towns and cities including the strategic fortress at Minden, which fell to the French on 10 July. Ferdinand was criticised for his failure to check the French offensive. His celebrated brother-in-law, Frederick the Great
, is reported as suggesting, since his loss at Bergen, Ferdinand had come to believe the French to be invincible. Irrespective of any presumed crisis of confidence, however, Ferdinand did ultimately decide to confront the French, near Minden.
Contades had taken up a strong defensive position along the Weser around Minden, where he had paused to regroup before he continued his advance. He initially resisted the opportunity to abandon this strong position to attack Ferdinand. Ferdinand instead formulated a plan that involved splitting his force into several groups to threaten Contandes' lines of supply. Perceiving Ferdinand's forces to be over-extended, Contades thought he saw a chance of the desired decisive victory. He ordered his men to quit their defensive encampments and advance into positions on the plain west of Minden during the night of 31 July and early morning of 1 August.
In 1759, the fortified city of Minden, now the Innenstadt (inner city) of modern Minden, was situated at the confluence of the Weser, which flows from south to north, and the Bastau, a marshy tributary rivulette. The Bastau drains into the Weser from west to east, roughly parallel with, and south of, the western arm of modern Germany's Midland Canal, where it crosses the Weser at Minden, north of the Innenstadt (see :de:Wasserstraßenkreuz Minden, the second largest water bridge in Europe). The Battle of Minden took place on the plain immediately in front of the city and its fortifications, to its northwest, with the Weser and Bastau lying behind the city to its east and south respectively.
On the 31st, the French troops under Contades direct command had their positions west of the Weser and south of the Bastau, crossing to the north over five pontoon
s during the night and early morning of the 1st. The French under the junior marshal, de Broglie, were stationed astride the Weser. Some were occupying Minden on the 31st, while the remainder, stationed to east of the Weser, crossed over to join them during the night.
, who commanded the reserve, began an artillery duel against the allied left.
The decisive action of the battle took place in the centre, famously due to a misunderstanding of orders. Friedrich von Spörcken
's division, composed of the infantry of the British contingent of the allied army (two brigades under Waldegrave
and Kingsley) and supported by the Hanoverian Guards, actually advanced to attack the French cavalry. It is reported that they had been ordered "to advance [up-]on the beating of drums", misunderstanding this as "to advance to the beating of drums". Despite being under constant artillery fire, the six British and two Hannovarian battalions drove off repeated cavalry charges with musket fire and inflicted serious casualties on the French.
Supported by the well-served British and Hanoverian artillery, the entire allied line eventually advanced against the French army and sent it fleeing from the field. The only French troops capable of mounting any significant resistance were those of de Broglie, who formed a fighting rear guard.
. The defeat ended the French threat to Hanover for the remainder of that year.
Ferdinand's cavalry commander, Lieutenant General Lord George Sackville
, was accused of ignoring repeated orders to bring up his troopers and charge the enemy until it was too late to make a difference. In order to clear his name he requested a court martial, but the evidence against him was substantial and the court martial declared him "...unfit to serve His Majesty in any capacity whatsoever." Sackville would later reappear as Lord George Germain
and bear a major portion of the blame for the outcome of the American Revolution while Secretary of State for the Colonies
.
In Britain the result at Minden was widely celebrated and was seen as part of Britain's Annus Mirabilis of 1759
also known as the "Year of Victories", although there was some criticism of Ferdinand for not following up his victory more aggressively. When George II
learned of the victory, he awarded Ferdinand £20,000 and the Order of the Garter
. Minden further boosted British support for the war on the continent - and the following year a "glorious reinforcement" was sent, swelling the size of the British contingent in Ferdinand's army.
In France the reaction to the result was severe. The Duc de Choiseul
, the French Chief Minister, wrote "I blush when I speak of our army. I simply cannot get it into my head, much less into my heart, that a pack of Hanoverians could defeat the army of the King". To discover how the defeat had occurred and to establish the general condition of the army, Marshal d'Estrées
was sent on a tour of inspection. Marshal de Contades was subsequently relieved of his command and replaced by the Duc de Broglie
.
Michel Louis Christophe Roch Gilbert Paulette du Motier, Marquis de La Fayette and colonel aux Grenadiers de France, was killed when he was hit by a cannonball in this battle. La Fayette's son, Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, was not even two years old at that time. Jean Thurel
, the 59 year-old Frech fusilier
, was severely wounded, receiving seven sword slashes, including six to the head.
The descendents of these are still known as "the Minden Regiments
."
When the British infantry and artillery were first advancing to battle they passed through some German gardens and the soldiers plucked roses and stuck them in their coats. In memory of this, each of the Minden regiments marks 1 August as Minden Day
. On that day the men of all ranks wear roses in their caps. The light infantry
wear Yorkshire white roses. From this tradition, and to mark the heroism of the Yorkshiremen who fought, 1 August has been adopted as Yorkshire Day
. This British victory is also recalled in the British Army's Queen's Division
maintaining the "Minden Band".
2 Batteries (12 + 32) from the Royal Artillery carry the Minden battle honour. Soldiers from 32 (Minden) Battery traditionally wear a red rose in their headress on 1 Aug every year, both Batterys celebrate Minden day every year without fail. A proud tradition exists: 'Once a Minden Man, always a Minden Man.'
Every year since 1967, six red roses have been anonymously delivered to the British Consulate General in Chicago on 1 August. Only in 2001 and 2002 were no roses sent. A note that comes with the roses lists the six regiments and says, "They advanced through rose gardens to the battleground and decorated their tricorne hats and grenadier caps with the emblem of England. These regiments celebrate Minden Day still, and all wear roses in their caps on this anniversary in memory of their ancestors." The consulate asks for the name of the sender so that they may thank the individual in person, but the identity of the donor remains a mystery.
. Lettres du Marêchal Duc de Belleisle au Marêchal de Contades; avec des Extraits de quelques unes de celles de ce dernier; trouvées parmi ſes Papiers, après la Bataille de Minden: Suivant la copie de Londres, imprimée ſur les Originaux, par autorité du Gouvernment de la Grand Bretagne. Chez Pierre de Hont, a La Haye
: 1759.
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
. An army fielded by the Anglo-German alliance commanded by Field Marshal
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick, defeated a French army commanded by Marshal of France
Marshal of France
The Marshal of France is a military distinction in contemporary France, not a military rank. It is granted to generals for exceptional achievements...
Louis, Marquis de Contades
Louis Georges Érasme de Contades
Louis Georges Érasme de Contades was the 6th Marquis de Contades and Seigneur de Montgeoffroi. He was a Marshal of France and a major battlefield commander during the Seven Years' War. He notably commanded the French forces at the 1759 Battle of Minden.He was born to Gaspard de Contades and his...
. In Britain, the victory was considered one of several fortuitous events that constituted the Annus Mirabilis of 1759
Annus Mirabilis of 1759
The Annus Mirabilis of 1759 took place in the context of the Seven Years' War and Great Britain's military success against French-led opponents on several continents...
.
Background
The western German-speaking states of Europe had been a major theatre of the Seven Years' War since 1757, when the French had launched an invasion of HanoverInvasion of Hanover (1757)
The Invasion of Hanover took place in 1757 during the Seven Years' War when a French army under Louis Charles César Le Tellier, duc d'Estrées advanced into Electorate of Hanover and neighbouring German states following the Battle of Hastenbeck. French forces overran most of Hanover forcing the Army...
. This culminated in a decisive victory for the French at the Battle of Hastenbeck
Battle of Hastenbeck
The Battle of Hastenbeck was fought as part of the Invasion of Hanover during the Seven Year's War between the allied forces of Hanover, Hesse-Kassel and Brunswick and the French...
and the attempted imposition of the Convention of Klosterzeven
Convention of Klosterzeven
The Convention of Klosterzeven was a 1757 convention signed at Klosterzeven between France and the Electorate of Hanover during the Seven Years' War that led to Hanover's withdrawal from the war and partial occupation by French forces. It came in the wake of the Battle of Hastenbeck in which...
upon the defeated allies: Hanover, Prussia and Britain. Prussia and Britain refused to ratify the convention; and, in 1758, a counter-offensive commanded by Ferdinand saw French forces first driven back across the Rhine, and then beaten at the Battle of Krefeld
Battle of Krefeld
The Battle of Krefeld was a battle fought on 23 June 1758 between a Prussian-Hanoverian army and a French army during the Seven Years' War.-Background:...
. The Prussian port of Emden
Emden
Emden is a city and seaport in the northwest of Germany, on the river Ems. It is the main city of the region of East Frisia; in 2006, the city had a total population of 51,692.-History:...
was also recaptured, securing allied supply from Britain. In fact, the British government, who had previously been opposed to any direct involvement on the continent, took the opportunity of the 1758–59 winter break in fighting to send nine thousand British troops to reinforce Ferdinand. The French crown also sent a reinforcing army, under Contades, hoping this would help to soon secure a decisive victory, swiftly concluding the costly war, and forcing the allies to, this time, accept the peace terms France was seeking.
In an attempt to defeat the French before their reinforcements arrived, Ferdinand decided to launch a fresh counter-offensive, and quit his winter quarters early. In April, however, Victor-François, Duke de Broglie
Victor-François, 2nd duc de Broglie
Victor François de Broglie, 2nd duc de Broglie was a French aristocrat and soldier and a marshal of France...
and the French withstood Ferdinand's attack at the Battle of Bergen
Battle of Bergen (1759)
The Battle of Bergen on 13 April 1759 saw the French army under de Broglie withstand an allied British, Hanoverian, Hessian, Brunswick army under Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick near Frankfurt-am-Main during the Seven Years' War.-Background:...
, and de Broglie was promoted to Marshal of France. Ferdinand was forced to retreat northwards in the face of the now reinforced French army. Contades, senior of the two French marshals, resumed the advance, occupying a number of towns and cities including the strategic fortress at Minden, which fell to the French on 10 July. Ferdinand was criticised for his failure to check the French offensive. His celebrated brother-in-law, Frederick the Great
Frederick II of Prussia
Frederick II was a King in Prussia and a King of Prussia from the Hohenzollern dynasty. In his role as a prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire, he was also Elector of Brandenburg. He was in personal union the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel...
, is reported as suggesting, since his loss at Bergen, Ferdinand had come to believe the French to be invincible. Irrespective of any presumed crisis of confidence, however, Ferdinand did ultimately decide to confront the French, near Minden.
Contades had taken up a strong defensive position along the Weser around Minden, where he had paused to regroup before he continued his advance. He initially resisted the opportunity to abandon this strong position to attack Ferdinand. Ferdinand instead formulated a plan that involved splitting his force into several groups to threaten Contandes' lines of supply. Perceiving Ferdinand's forces to be over-extended, Contades thought he saw a chance of the desired decisive victory. He ordered his men to quit their defensive encampments and advance into positions on the plain west of Minden during the night of 31 July and early morning of 1 August.
Topography
On the 31st, the French troops under Contades direct command had their positions west of the Weser and south of the Bastau, crossing to the north over five pontoon
Pontoon bridge
A pontoon bridge or floating bridge is a bridge that floats on water and in which barge- or boat-like pontoons support the bridge deck and its dynamic loads. While pontoon bridges are usually temporary structures, some are used for long periods of time...
s during the night and early morning of the 1st. The French under the junior marshal, de Broglie, were stationed astride the Weser. Some were occupying Minden on the 31st, while the remainder, stationed to east of the Weser, crossed over to join them during the night.
Battle
In an exception to the norm of the era, Contades placed his artillery in the centre protected only by the cavalry, with his infantry on either flank. The battle began on the French right flank, where Marshal de BroglieVictor-François, 2nd duc de Broglie
Victor François de Broglie, 2nd duc de Broglie was a French aristocrat and soldier and a marshal of France...
, who commanded the reserve, began an artillery duel against the allied left.
The decisive action of the battle took place in the centre, famously due to a misunderstanding of orders. Friedrich von Spörcken
Friedrich von Spörcken
Friedrich von Spörcken was a Hanoverian soldier best known for his service in the Seven Years War. He served as part of the Army of Observation between 1757-1762 leading the Hanoverian contingent at a number of major battles including Krefeld and Minden.-Early life:Spörcken was born on 28 August...
's division, composed of the infantry of the British contingent of the allied army (two brigades under Waldegrave
John Waldegrave, 3rd Earl Waldegrave
John Waldegrave, 3rd Earl Waldegrave was a British politician and soldier.Waldegrave was the youngest son of the 1st Earl Waldegrave. He joined the 1st Regiment of Foot in 1735, rising to the rank of Captain in 1739...
and Kingsley) and supported by the Hanoverian Guards, actually advanced to attack the French cavalry. It is reported that they had been ordered "to advance [up-]on the beating of drums", misunderstanding this as "to advance to the beating of drums". Despite being under constant artillery fire, the six British and two Hannovarian battalions drove off repeated cavalry charges with musket fire and inflicted serious casualties on the French.
Supported by the well-served British and Hanoverian artillery, the entire allied line eventually advanced against the French army and sent it fleeing from the field. The only French troops capable of mounting any significant resistance were those of de Broglie, who formed a fighting rear guard.
Aftermath
Prince Ferdinand's army suffered 2,800 fatalities; the French lost between 10,000 and 11,000 men. In the wake of the battle the French retreated southwards to KasselKassel
Kassel is a town located on the Fulda River in northern Hesse, Germany. It is the administrative seat of the Kassel Regierungsbezirk and the Kreis of the same name and has approximately 195,000 inhabitants.- History :...
. The defeat ended the French threat to Hanover for the remainder of that year.
Ferdinand's cavalry commander, Lieutenant General Lord George Sackville
George Germain, 1st Viscount Sackville
George Germain, 1st Viscount Sackville PC , known as the Hon. George Sackville to 1720, as Lord George Sackville from 1720 to 1770, and as Lord George Germain from 1770 to 1782, was a British soldier and politician who was Secretary of State for America in Lord North's cabinet during the American...
, was accused of ignoring repeated orders to bring up his troopers and charge the enemy until it was too late to make a difference. In order to clear his name he requested a court martial, but the evidence against him was substantial and the court martial declared him "...unfit to serve His Majesty in any capacity whatsoever." Sackville would later reappear as Lord George Germain
George Germain, 1st Viscount Sackville
George Germain, 1st Viscount Sackville PC , known as the Hon. George Sackville to 1720, as Lord George Sackville from 1720 to 1770, and as Lord George Germain from 1770 to 1782, was a British soldier and politician who was Secretary of State for America in Lord North's cabinet during the American...
and bear a major portion of the blame for the outcome of the American Revolution while Secretary of State for the Colonies
Secretary of State for the Colonies
The Secretary of State for the Colonies or Colonial Secretary was the British Cabinet minister in charge of managing the United Kingdom's various colonial dependencies....
.
In Britain the result at Minden was widely celebrated and was seen as part of Britain's Annus Mirabilis of 1759
Annus Mirabilis of 1759
The Annus Mirabilis of 1759 took place in the context of the Seven Years' War and Great Britain's military success against French-led opponents on several continents...
also known as the "Year of Victories", although there was some criticism of Ferdinand for not following up his victory more aggressively. When George II
George II of Great Britain
George II was King of Great Britain and Ireland, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Archtreasurer and Prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire from 11 June 1727 until his death.George was the last British monarch born outside Great Britain. He was born and brought up in Northern Germany...
learned of the victory, he awarded Ferdinand £20,000 and the Order of the Garter
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
. Minden further boosted British support for the war on the continent - and the following year a "glorious reinforcement" was sent, swelling the size of the British contingent in Ferdinand's army.
In France the reaction to the result was severe. The Duc de Choiseul
Étienne François, duc de Choiseul
Étienne-François, comte de Stainville, duc de Choiseul was a French military officer, diplomat and statesman. Between 1758 and 1761, and 1766 and 1770, he was Foreign Minister of France and had a strong influence on France's global strategy throughout the period...
, the French Chief Minister, wrote "I blush when I speak of our army. I simply cannot get it into my head, much less into my heart, that a pack of Hanoverians could defeat the army of the King". To discover how the defeat had occurred and to establish the general condition of the army, Marshal d'Estrées
Louis Charles César Le Tellier, duc d'Estrées
Louis Charles César Le Tellier known as the Duke of Estrées was a French military commander and Marshal of France.-Biography:...
was sent on a tour of inspection. Marshal de Contades was subsequently relieved of his command and replaced by the Duc de Broglie
Victor-François, 2nd duc de Broglie
Victor François de Broglie, 2nd duc de Broglie was a French aristocrat and soldier and a marshal of France...
.
Michel Louis Christophe Roch Gilbert Paulette du Motier, Marquis de La Fayette and colonel aux Grenadiers de France, was killed when he was hit by a cannonball in this battle. La Fayette's son, Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, was not even two years old at that time. Jean Thurel
Jean Thurel
Jean Thurel was a fusilier of the French Army with an extraordinarily long career that spanned over 90 years of service in the Touraine Regiment...
, the 59 year-old Frech fusilier
Fusilier
Fusilier was originally the name of a soldier armed with a light flintlock musket called the fusil. The word was first used around 1680, and has later developed into a regimental designation.-History:...
, was severely wounded, receiving seven sword slashes, including six to the head.
Minden in regimental tradition
The British regiments which fought at Minden were:- Royal Artillery
- 12th of Foot (Suffolk RegimentSuffolk RegimentThe Suffolk Regiment was an infantry regiment of the line in the British Army with a history dating back to 1685. It saw service for three centuries, before being amalgamated with the Royal Norfolk Regiment as the 1st East Anglian Regiment in 1959...
) - 20th Foot (Lancashire FusiliersLancashire FusiliersThe Lancashire Fusiliers was a British infantry regiment that was amalgamated with other Fusilier regiments in 1968 to form the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.- Formation and early history:...
) - 23rd of Foot (Royal Welch FusiliersRoyal Welch FusiliersThe Royal Welch Fusiliers was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Prince of Wales' Division. It was founded in 1689 to oppose James II and the imminent war with France...
) - 25th of Foot (King's Own Scottish BorderersKing's Own Scottish BorderersThe King's Own Scottish Borderers was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Scottish Division.-History:It was raised on 18 March 1689 by the Earl of Leven to defend Edinburgh against the Jacobite forces of James II. It is said that 800 men were recruited within the space of two hours...
) - 37th of Foot (Royal Hampshire RegimentRoyal Hampshire RegimentThe Royal Hampshire Regiment was a British Army line infantry regiment from 1881 to 1992. Its lineage is continued today by the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment.-Formation and antecedents:...
) - 51st Foot (King's Own Yorkshire Light InfantryKing's Own Yorkshire Light InfantryThe King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry was a regiment of the British Army. It officially existed from 1881 to 1968, but its predecessors go back to 1755. The regiment's traditions and history are now maintained by The Rifles.-The 51st Foot:...
)
The descendents of these are still known as "the Minden Regiments
Minden Day
Minden Day is a regimental anniversary celebrated on August 1 by certain units of the British Army. It commemorates the participation of the forerunners of the regiments in the Battle of Minden on that date in 1759....
."
When the British infantry and artillery were first advancing to battle they passed through some German gardens and the soldiers plucked roses and stuck them in their coats. In memory of this, each of the Minden regiments marks 1 August as Minden Day
Minden Day
Minden Day is a regimental anniversary celebrated on August 1 by certain units of the British Army. It commemorates the participation of the forerunners of the regiments in the Battle of Minden on that date in 1759....
. On that day the men of all ranks wear roses in their caps. The light infantry
Light infantry
Traditionally light infantry were soldiers whose job was to provide a skirmishing screen ahead of the main body of infantry, harassing and delaying the enemy advance. Light infantry was distinct from medium, heavy or line infantry. Heavy infantry were dedicated primarily to fighting in tight...
wear Yorkshire white roses. From this tradition, and to mark the heroism of the Yorkshiremen who fought, 1 August has been adopted as Yorkshire Day
Yorkshire Day
Yorkshire Day is celebrated on 1 August to promote the historic English county of Yorkshire. It was celebrated in 1975, by the Yorkshire Ridings Society, initially in Beverley, as "protest movement against the Local Government re-organisation of 1974", The date alludes to the Battle of Minden, and...
. This British victory is also recalled in the British Army's Queen's Division
Queen's Division
The Queen's Division is a British Army command, training and administrative apparatus designated for has the regiments from the east of England and the remaining regiment of Fusiliers. The Queen's Division was formed in 1968 with the regimentation of the Home Counties Brigade, Fusilier Brigade and...
maintaining the "Minden Band".
2 Batteries (12 + 32) from the Royal Artillery carry the Minden battle honour. Soldiers from 32 (Minden) Battery traditionally wear a red rose in their headress on 1 Aug every year, both Batterys celebrate Minden day every year without fail. A proud tradition exists: 'Once a Minden Man, always a Minden Man.'
Every year since 1967, six red roses have been anonymously delivered to the British Consulate General in Chicago on 1 August. Only in 2001 and 2002 were no roses sent. A note that comes with the roses lists the six regiments and says, "They advanced through rose gardens to the battleground and decorated their tricorne hats and grenadier caps with the emblem of England. These regiments celebrate Minden Day still, and all wear roses in their caps on this anniversary in memory of their ancestors." The consulate asks for the name of the sender so that they may thank the individual in person, but the identity of the donor remains a mystery.
See also
- John Manners, Marquess of GranbyJohn Manners, Marquess of GranbyGeneral John Manners, Marquess of Granby PC, , British soldier, was the eldest son of the 3rd Duke of Rutland. As he did not outlive his father, he was known by his father's subsidiary title, Marquess of Granby...
- Granville ElliottGranville ElliottMajor-General Granville Elliott , was a British military officer. He served with distinction in several other European armies and subsequently in the British Army...
- Great Britain in the Seven Years WarGreat Britain in the Seven Years WarThe Kingdom of Great Britain was one of the major participants in the Seven Years' War which lasted between 1756 and 1763. Britain emerged from the war as the world's leading colonial power having gained a number of new territories at the Treaty of Paris in 1763 and established itself as the...
Works cited
- Dull, Jonathan R. The French Navy and the Seven Years' War. University of Nebraska, 2005.
- McLynn, Frank. 1759: The Year Britain Became Master of the World. Pimlico, 2005.
- Szabo, Franz A.J. The Seven Years War in Europe, 1757-1763. Pearson, 2008. Stenzel, Gustav Adolf Harald. Geschichte des Preussischen Staats. Fünfter Band: 1756–1763. Hamburg, 1854.
Further reading
Contades, Louis Georges Érasme, deLouis Georges Érasme de Contades
Louis Georges Érasme de Contades was the 6th Marquis de Contades and Seigneur de Montgeoffroi. He was a Marshal of France and a major battlefield commander during the Seven Years' War. He notably commanded the French forces at the 1759 Battle of Minden.He was born to Gaspard de Contades and his...
. Lettres du Marêchal Duc de Belleisle au Marêchal de Contades; avec des Extraits de quelques unes de celles de ce dernier; trouvées parmi ſes Papiers, après la Bataille de Minden: Suivant la copie de Londres, imprimée ſur les Originaux, par autorité du Gouvernment de la Grand Bretagne. Chez Pierre de Hont, a La Haye
La Haye
In French, La Haye mainly refers to The Hague in the NetherlandsLa Haye may also refer to the following communes in France:*La Haye, Seine-Maritime, in the Seine-Maritime département*La Haye, Vosges, in the Vosges département...
: 1759.
- Griffiths, RalphWilliam RoyMajor-General William Roy FRS was a Scottish military engineer, surveyor, and antiquarian. He was an innovator who applied new scientific discoveries and newly emerging technologies to the accurate geodetic mapping of Great Britain....
. A Plan of the Battle of Thonhausen near Minden: on the 1st of August 1759. Published 1760. [The map was drawn for the court martial of Lieutenant General George Germain, Viscount of SackvilleGeorge Germain, 1st Viscount SackvilleGeorge Germain, 1st Viscount Sackville PC , known as the Hon. George Sackville to 1720, as Lord George Sackville from 1720 to 1770, and as Lord George Germain from 1770 to 1782, was a British soldier and politician who was Secretary of State for America in Lord North's cabinet during the American...
. See pages 10–11 of the National Library of ScotlandNational Library of ScotlandThe National Library of Scotland is the legal deposit library of Scotland and is one of the country's National Collections. It is based in a collection of buildings in Edinburgh city centre. The headquarters is on George IV Bridge, between the Old Town and the university quarter...
Annual Review 2005–2006.] Steffen, Martin (editor). Die Schlacht bei Minden: Weltpolitik und Lokalgeschichte. J.C.C. Bruns' Verlag, 2008. ISBN 978-3-00-026211-1.